St Andrews Old Course History Walking Tour for the Golfer
by St Andrews Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.£40Overview
This walking tour in St Andrews lasts about 75 minutes and focuses on the history of the Old Course and the game of golf, designed especially for golfers and those interested in golf's development. The tour begins outside a hotel with a five-minute introduction to the town's history, including the 1123 Links charter. It then covers the origins and early development of golf, starting with 13th-century stick and ball games in the Low Countries and moving to Edinburgh in 1744, explaining why St Andrews is known as the Home of Golf. Participants visit the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, where they learn how the Old Course influenced the game, including the origins of fairways and bunkers, and hear stories about Old Tom Morris and the old Caddie Shack. The guide discusses the Open Championship, the Dunhill Cup, and how the course expanded from 12 and 10 holes to 18. The tour continues around the 18th hole area, highlighting important sites such as the first and eighteenth fairways, local farmers, Rusacks Hotel, the Mannings, the original first tee and eighteenth hole, and how early caddies and ladies inspired Old Tom Morris to create the world’s first putting green. A photo opportunity is included on the Swilcan Bridge, a well-known golf landmark, except on tournament days. The tour ends near the Old Course Jigger Inn, where participants hear about notable moments at the Road Hole, the seventeenth green of the Old Course. Refreshments at the inn are not included. The tour includes a professional local guide and professionally taken photos on the Swilcan Bridge, except during tournament days. It is not suitable for children under five, those using strollers, crutches, walking frames, or mobility scooters, and is not recommended for people with recent knee or hip replacements or sprained ankles. Participants should have a fluent command of English, as the guide speaks at a normal pace without translation or slowing down.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Meeting point and town overview
Meet the guide named Richard outside a hotel at the tour start. The guide provides a brief history of the town leading up to the 1123 Links charter. The tour will not wait for late arrivals.
5 min
Early golf origins
Learn about golf’s beginnings with stick and ball games from the 13th century in the Low Countries, its spread to Edinburgh in 1744, and the reasons St Andrews is called the Home of Golf.
10 min
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews
Explore how the Old Course shaped golf’s rules and design, including the creation of fairways and bunkers. The guide tells stories about Old Tom Morris and the old Caddie Shack.
15 min
Course development and championships
Discuss the history of the Open Championship and Dunhill Cup. Examine how the course expanded from 12 and 10 holes to 18 and visit key sites around the 18th hole.
15 min
First and eighteenth fairways
Visit the 1st and 18th fairways, Rusacks Hotel, the Mannings, and the original tees. Learn how early caddies and ladies influenced Old Tom Morris to create the world’s first putting green.
10 min
Swilcan Bridge photo stop
Pause for a professionally taken photo on the Swilcan Bridge, a famous golf landmark. Photos are not taken on tournament days such as the Dunhill or Open.
10 min
The Jigger Inn
Hear stories about the Road Hole, the 17th green of the Old Course, before ending near the Old Course Jigger Inn. Refreshments here are available but not included.
10 min
Meeting point
Meeting point: Hotel du Vin, 40 The Scores, St Andrews. Richard will see you outside the front of the Hotel for your shared tour. Please be on time as these public tours will not wait. The hotel is also open to the public for refreshments (not included).
End point
Tours finish at the Road Hole, 17th, near the famed Old Course Jigger Inn, where you can relax with beverages and food by the 17th fairway (not included).
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
St Andrews Old Course History Walking Tour for the Golfer
by St Andrews Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.£40Overview
This walking tour in St Andrews lasts about 75 minutes and focuses on the history of the Old Course and the game of golf, designed especially for golfers and those interested in golf's development. The tour begins outside a hotel with a five-minute introduction to the town's history, including the 1123 Links charter. It then covers the origins and early development of golf, starting with 13th-century stick and ball games in the Low Countries and moving to Edinburgh in 1744, explaining why St Andrews is known as the Home of Golf. Participants visit the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, where they learn how the Old Course influenced the game, including the origins of fairways and bunkers, and hear stories about Old Tom Morris and the old Caddie Shack. The guide discusses the Open Championship, the Dunhill Cup, and how the course expanded from 12 and 10 holes to 18. The tour continues around the 18th hole area, highlighting important sites such as the first and eighteenth fairways, local farmers, Rusacks Hotel, the Mannings, the original first tee and eighteenth hole, and how early caddies and ladies inspired Old Tom Morris to create the world’s first putting green. A photo opportunity is included on the Swilcan Bridge, a well-known golf landmark, except on tournament days. The tour ends near the Old Course Jigger Inn, where participants hear about notable moments at the Road Hole, the seventeenth green of the Old Course. Refreshments at the inn are not included. The tour includes a professional local guide and professionally taken photos on the Swilcan Bridge, except during tournament days. It is not suitable for children under five, those using strollers, crutches, walking frames, or mobility scooters, and is not recommended for people with recent knee or hip replacements or sprained ankles. Participants should have a fluent command of English, as the guide speaks at a normal pace without translation or slowing down.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Meeting point and town overview
Meet the guide named Richard outside a hotel at the tour start. The guide provides a brief history of the town leading up to the 1123 Links charter. The tour will not wait for late arrivals.
5 min
Early golf origins
Learn about golf’s beginnings with stick and ball games from the 13th century in the Low Countries, its spread to Edinburgh in 1744, and the reasons St Andrews is called the Home of Golf.
10 min
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews
Explore how the Old Course shaped golf’s rules and design, including the creation of fairways and bunkers. The guide tells stories about Old Tom Morris and the old Caddie Shack.
15 min
Course development and championships
Discuss the history of the Open Championship and Dunhill Cup. Examine how the course expanded from 12 and 10 holes to 18 and visit key sites around the 18th hole.
15 min
First and eighteenth fairways
Visit the 1st and 18th fairways, Rusacks Hotel, the Mannings, and the original tees. Learn how early caddies and ladies influenced Old Tom Morris to create the world’s first putting green.
10 min
Swilcan Bridge photo stop
Pause for a professionally taken photo on the Swilcan Bridge, a famous golf landmark. Photos are not taken on tournament days such as the Dunhill or Open.
10 min
The Jigger Inn
Hear stories about the Road Hole, the 17th green of the Old Course, before ending near the Old Course Jigger Inn. Refreshments here are available but not included.
10 min
Meeting point
Meeting point: Hotel du Vin, 40 The Scores, St Andrews. Richard will see you outside the front of the Hotel for your shared tour. Please be on time as these public tours will not wait. The hotel is also open to the public for refreshments (not included).
End point
Tours finish at the Road Hole, 17th, near the famed Old Course Jigger Inn, where you can relax with beverages and food by the 17th fairway (not included).
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.